Centered on a white field is a copper-colored silhouette of the island (the island has long been famous for its copper deposits) above two olive-green-colored, crossed olive branches. The branches symbolize the hope for peace and reconciliation between the Greek and Turkish communities.

Flag courtesy of the CIA World Factbook

Map courtesy of the CIA World Factbook

Google Earth

The ruins of the Roman gymnasium at Salamis, on the east coast of Cyprus.

Photo courtesy of the CIA World Factbook

Government

According to Britannica, the constitution of the Republic of Cyprus, adopted in 1960, provided that executive power be exercised by a Greek Cypriot president and a Turkish Cypriot vice president, elected to five-year terms by universal suffrage, and that there be a Council of Ministers (cabinet) comprising seven Greek Cypriot and three Turkish Cypriot members. It also called for an elected House of Representatives with 50 seats, divided between Greek and Turkish Cypriots in the proportion of 35 to 15 and elected for terms of five years.

The constitution, derived from the negotiations in Zürich, Switzerland, in 1959 between representatives of the governments of Greece and Turkey, was not widely accepted by the citizens of the new republic. The Greek Cypriots, whose struggle against the British had been for enosis (union with Greece) and not for independence, regretted the failure to achieve this national aspiration. As a result, it was not long after the establishment of the republic that the Greek Cypriot majority began to regard many of the provisions, particularly those relating to finance and to local government, as unworkable. Proposals for amendments were rejected by the Turkish government, and, after the outbreak of fighting between the two Cypriot communities in late 1963, the constitution was suspended. In the Republic of Cyprus after the Turkish occupation of 1974, the constitution’s provisions remained in force where practicable; the main formal change has been the increase in the number of seats in the House of Representatives to 80, although the 24 seats allocated to Turks have remained vacant.

On the Turkish side of the demarcation line, there have been, since 1974, a popularly elected president, prime minister, and legislative assembly, all serving five-year terms of office. A new constitution was approved for the Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus (TRNC) by its electorate in 1985.

Local government in the Republic of Cyprus is at the district, municipal, rural municipality, and village levels. District officers are appointed by the government; local councils are elected, as are the mayors of municipalities.

The legal code of Cyprus is based on Roman law. In the Greek Cypriot zone judges are appointed by the government, but the judiciary is entirely independent of the executive power. The Supreme Court is the highest court and also serves as the final appeals court in the republic. A Permanent Assize Court has criminal jurisdiction over the whole island, and district courts handle criminal, civil, and admiralty matters. The Turkish Cypriot zone has a similar system of justice.

Civil / National Aviation Authority (CAA/NAA)

Cyprus became a member of the ICAO, an agency of the United Nations, shortly after its independence in February 1961.
ICAO has entrusted and delegated to the Department of Civil Aviation the responsibility to provide air traffic control services in a space of an area covering 175,000 square kilometers, which is several times the size of Cyprus.

Airspace

SkyVector – Google Maps – ADS-B Exchange

ICAO countries publish an Aeronautical Information Publication (AIP). This document is divided into three parts: General (GEN), En Route (ENR) and Aerodromes (AD). ENR 1.4 details the types of airspace classes they chose to adopt from classes A through G. Cyprus AIP (requires user name and password).

Drone Regulations

UAVs Laws

Note: The following is not an official legal translation of the Acting Director’s Decision. Where disparity occurs, the original Greek text is binding.

The Acting Director of the Department of Civil Aviation of the Ministry of Transport, Communications and Works, exercising the rights vested in him by Articles 9 and 260 (3) of the Civil Aviation Act 2002 (as amended), as well as Statutory Instrument No.57/2007 (Cyprus Government Gazette III (I),No.4171, 02.02.2007) issues the following Decision:

1. This Decision shall be referred to as the Civil Aviation (Exemption of Unmanned Aerial Vehicles from Obligatory Registration) Decision 2015.

2.-(1) In accordance with this Decision and unless a different meaning arises from the text, the following terms apply:

Republic: Means the Republic of Cyprus

Unmanned Aerial Vehicles: Means unmanned aircraft, including all remotely piloted and autonomous aircraft, irrespective of their total take-off mass.

3. According to this Decision, unmanned aerial aircraft with a total take-off mass of up to 25 kilograms, are exempt from obligatory registration as per the Third Chapter of the Civil Aviation Act 2002 (as amended).

4. This Decision will come into force on the date of its publication in the Cyprus Government Gazette.

Issued on 20th November 2015 Nicos Nicolaou Acting Director Department of Civil Aviation

Note: The following is not an official legal translation of the Ministerial Decree. Where disparity occurs, the original Greek text is binding.

In accordance with Articles 5 (1) and 260 of the Civil Aviation Act 2002 (as amended) and the powers vested in him, the Minister of Transport, Communications and Works issues the following Decree:

1. This Decree shall be referred to as the Civil Aviation Decree, (Conditions for the Operation of Flights by Unmanned Aerial Vehicles in the Republic of Cyprus) 2015.

2-(1) In accordance with this Decree and unless a different meaning arises from the text, the following terms apply:

Competent Authority: Means the Department of Civil Aviation of the Ministry of Transport, Communications and Works.

Republic: Means the Republic of Cyprus.

Commercial Activity: Means the activity for which valuable consideration is expected. The only exceptions are charitable activities which are carried out on a non-profit basis for the benefit of an approved charity.

Unmanned Aerial Vehicles: Means unmanned aircraft, including all remotely-piloted and autonomous aircraft, irrespective of their total take-off mass.

Aeromodelling Air-strip: Means a landing strip which has been approved by the Competent Authority and which is used for air-sports or recreational purposes by unmanned aircraft.

Law: Means the Civil Aviation Act 2002 (as amended).

Minister: Means the Minister of Transport, Communications and Works.

(2) Any other terms, included in this Decree which are not specifically defined herewith, are to be defined according to the Civil Aviation Act 2002 (as amended).

3-(1) The purpose of the present Decree, is to contribute to the safe and effective operation of unmanned aircraft under specific conditions.

(2) Unmanned aircraft, operating within Approved Aeromodelling Sites, as well as unmanned aircraft with a total take-off mass of more than 150 kg, are exempt from the provisions of this Decree.

4. Every unmanned aircraft should be registered by its owner and/ or operator at the following e-mail address: uav@dca.mcw.gov.cy, by providing the information required by document DCA/UAV/01.

5. Flight operation of unmanned aircraft, is divided into two categories: The Open Category and the Special Category.

6-(1) Open Category This includes unmanned aircraft, having a total take-off mass of less than three (3) kilograms, which are not involved in commercial activities, and whose maximum flight-height does not exceed 50 meters (170 feet) above the ground or water.

(2) Unmanned aircraft that fall into the Open Category are not required to hold an Operating License from the Competent Authority, in order to operate flights within the airspace of the Republic of Cyprus.

(3) The flight safety of unmanned aircraft, operating in the Open Category, is safeguarded through specific operational restrictions and regulations. All flight operations of such aircraft shall be carried out in accordance with the following defined conditions:

i. Flights are not permitted unless the operator has direct visual contact with the unmanned aircraft, at a distance of not more than 500 meters. The operator must rely on this visual contact to carry out any necessary operating actions, in order to monitor the flight path of the aircraft in relation to other aircraft, persons, animals, vehicles, buildings and structures for the purpose of avoiding collisions.

ii. The operator is only allowed to carry out flights in the Open Category, with an unmanned aircraft of a total take off-mass of less than 3 kg and which is used for recreational, sports, training, display or racing purposes and which does not involve any kind of commercial activity.

iii. The operator has undergone the necessary training to be able to operate the unmanned aircraft.

iv. The operator of the unmanned aircraft is only allowed to fly the aircraft during the daytime and when reasonably satisfied that the flight can be conducted safely and will immediately interrupt the flights when conditions become unsuitable.

v. Dropping of any object or material during the flight is prohibited.

vi. The operator of the unmanned aircraft shall not operate a flight whilst under the influence of alcohol and psychotropic drugs that may impair his/her judgement and cognitive reasoning.

vii. The operator of the unmanned aircraft, is not allowed to operate flights with more than one aircraft at the same time.

viii. A safety distance of one (1) kilometer from residential areas and five hundred (500) meters from isolated buildings, people, vehicles, animals, structures, etc (except with the permission of the owner), should be maintained. This does not apply to the operator, supporting staff, vehicles or other auxiliary apparatus that serve the flight.

ix. A safety distance of at least eight (8) kilometers from an airport/landing strip and three (3) kilometers from a heliport shall be maintained.

x. Flights within prohibited, restricted, dangerous and reserved areas as mentioned in the relevant aeronautical publications of the Competent Authority, as well as flights above, within, or in proximity to military installations, public utility installations, archaeological sites and public or private facilities, are not permitted, except with the permission of the owner or the relevant Competent Authority.

xi. Aerial Photography of National Guard installations and infrastructure is strictly prohibited.

xii. The operator of the unmanned aircraft, is responsible for maintaining a safe distance from all other airspace users, giving them priority and ensuring that during the flight activity of the unmanned aircraft, no other aircraft is put into danger.

xiii. Unmanned aircraft of the open category are not allowed to fly at a height of more than fifty (50) meters (170 feet) above the ground or water.

xiv. The operator is responsible for complying with the legislation in force in relation to the Right to Privacy and Personal Data Protection.

xv. Any faults, malfunctions, defects or other incidents which lead to serious injury or death should be reported to the Competent Authority.

xvi. Flights by an unmanned aircraft which has been manufactured, modified, re-manufactured or added to, by non-qualified persons, are not permitted, except with the permission of the Competent Authority.

7-(1) Special Category This includes unmanned aircraft, irrespective of their total take-off mass, which carry out commercial activities and also unmanned aircraft , of a total take- off mass of more than 3 kilograms, which carry out either commercial or non-commercial activities. Their flight-height shall not exceed 120 meters (400ft) from the ground or water, except if in accordance with a special permit issued by the Competent Authority, a temporary permission has been granted to fly higher.

(2) Unmanned aircraft of the special category are not allowed to operate flights within Cypriot Airspace, unless they hold an Operating License and the operator is a holder of an Unmanned Aircraft Pilot License, issued by the Competent Authority.

(3) The Operating License, issued by the Competent Authority, defines the flight activities for which the unmanned aircraft of the Special Category is licensed.

(4) The Unmanned Aircraft Pilot License, issued by the Competent Authority, defines the aircraft categories and types in each Category, for which the Unmanned Aircraft Pilot is licensed. The Unmanned Aircraft Pilot License should be accompanied by a valid, Category 3, Medical Certificate.

(5) The Competent Authority is responsible for the evaluation, the licensing and oversight of the Unmanned Aircraft Pilots Training Schools.

(6) Special Category Unmanned Aircraft operations, are safeguarded through operating restrictions and regulations which are described in detail in the conditions and restrictions defined by the Competent Authority and which form an integral part of the Operating License.

(7) The Special Category Unmanned Aircraft Operating License, the Special Category Unmanned Aircraft Pilot License and the Unmanned Aircraft Pilots Training Schools License, is granted by the Competent Authority when it is satisfied that the owner or operator complies with specific requirements as described in the Unmanned Aircraft Operating License, Pilots and Training Schools Manual.

(8) Interested persons may obtain the Unmanned Aircraft Operating License, Pilots and Training Schools Manual from the Competent Authority, on submission of their application.

(9) The granting of the Special Category, Unmanned Aircraft Operating License, requires that the owner or operator provides for insurance cover against death, personal injury and damages, caused to third parties, for the minimum amount of one million Euros.

8-(1) Those who contravene the present Decree and the orders, directions and restrictions issued by the Competent Authority, in accordance with the Decree, or those who operate flights without the required License or approval from the Competent Authority, or are acting beyond its scope, or are not in compliance with all its conditions, are committing an administrative offense and will be subject to penalties in accordance with articles 245, 246 and 247 of the Civil Aviation Act 2002 (as amended).

(2) Violations which constitute a criminal act, in accordance with article 250 of the Civil Aviation Act or other laws of the Republic, are exempt from the provisions of paragraph 1 above.

9-(1) As from the date of effect of this Decree, all owners and operators of unmanned aircraft, will be obliged to comply with its provisions.

(2) The Provisions of paragraphs (2) and (4) of Article 7, regarding the obligation on users of unmanned aircraft to be in possession of an Unmanned Aircraft Pilot’s License, are put into force six (6) months after the publication date of the present Decree.

10. The present Decree is put into force on the date of its publication in the Cyprus Government Gazette.

Done on 9th November 2015 Marios Demetriades Minister of Transport, Communications and Works

specific drone page

From 31/12/2020 all remotely piloted and autonomous aircraft (drones) from the small consumer devices used for recreation, to large aircraft used for other purposes, are subject to the provisions of legislation by EASA, which aims to the safety of flights within the Cyprus Airspace and the European Union.

The common European rules on Unmanned Aircraft Systems (UAS) enter into force on 31/12/2020 and are based on an assessment of the risk of operation, and strike a balance between the obligations of drone manufacturers and operators in terms of safety, respect for privacy, the environment, protection against noise, and security.

The new rules ensure that drone operators whether recreational or professional will have a clear understanding of what is allowed or not. They will cover each operation type from those not requiring prior permission, to those involving certified aircraft and operators, as well as minimum remote pilot training requirements.

Operators will be able to operate their drones seamlessly when traveling across the EU or when developing a business involving drones around Europe. Common rules will help foster investment and innovation in this promising sector.

EU Delegated Regulation 2019/945 – on unmanned aircraft systems and on third-country operators of unmanned aircraft systems

EU Implementing Regulation 2019/947 – on all the rules and procedures for the operation of unmanned aircraft

EU Implementing Regulation 2020/639 – amending Implementing Regulation (EU) 2019/947 as regards standard scenarios for operations

UAVs Decree 402/2015 for Unmanned Aerial Vehicles – This Decree shall be referred to as the Civil Aviation Decree, (Conditions for the Operation of Flights by UAVs) in Cyprus

Easy Access Rules for UAS (drones) – Easy Access Rules combines all regulations, AMC (acceptable means of compliance) and GM (guidance material) into one single package

Online Training and Exam

Who should take the Exam?

Who should Register?

As of 31st December 2020, national rules for drones will be replaced by a common European regulations. The purpose of this reform is to create a truly harmonized drone market in Europe with the highest level of safety. In practice, it means that once a drone operator has received an authorization from its state of registry, he/she will be allowed to freely circulate in the European Union. According to the level of risk involved, this new legal framework will introduce three categories of drone operations:

Are you living outside of Europe? Are you planning to visit Cyprus and bring your drone to capture amazing shots of our beautiful island?

Operator Registration (Non EU Residents)

Remote Pilot Certificate (Non EU Residents)

Had an Accident or Incident while flying your drone?

Please make sure you report it !

According to Regulation (EU) No. 376/2014, on the reporting, analysis and follow-up of occurrences in civil aviation, you should report this ‘Occurrence’ so as allow the industry and regulators to be informed about the risks they are facing and to make choices supported with relevant knowledge and information provided by aircraft operators.

Submit your Occurrence Report by filling out the official ECCAIRS2 online form

Advanced Air Mobility (AAM)

Short Essay Questions